‘GLOW’: Marc Maron’s Extraordinary Performance Will Have You Saying WTF

The female ensemble of GLOW has garnered some well-earned praise for both their theatrical and physical performances in Netflix’s fiercely funny new comedy. Alison Brie is nothing sort of phenomenal as she effortlessly toggles between humorous and heartfelt, and the supporting cast are an eclectic mix of characters that are as original as they are compelling. Co-creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch have crafted such a fun, unique universe filled with relatable underdogs, and the guy in charge of shepherding this disparate lot is down on his luck B-movie director Sam Sylvia, portrayed with gruff aplomb by veteran comedian Marc Maron.

Best known for his stand-up and immensely popular podcast, Maron is primarily associated with comedy, but the actor’s nuanced portrayal of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling’s prickly director not only shines a spotlight on his rarely seen dramatic chops, it’s Marc Maron’s absolute best performance to date.

Photo: Netflix

The evolution of Sam Sylvia is one of the most riveting storylines of the season. Sam initially accepts the gig with GLOW as a means to an end. He’s not a lifelong fan of professional wrestling like Bash (Chris Lowell); he reluctantly takes the job in the hopes that’ll lead to financing for his dream project, and his early hesitancy regarding the risky venture is shared by many of the wrestlers. GLOW wasn’t anyone’s first choice, but, eventually, a sincere love for the sport as well as a communal camaraderie develop between the ragtag group of dreamers.

This gradual kinship is best illustrated by the evolution of Sam and Ruth’s relationship. Initially, Sam despises the exaggerated antics of Ruth, but his aggravation eventually develops into a begrudging tolerance before finally settling into a genuine friendship. While the tender scene the duo share in Episode 8 (which I won’t spoil here) is a theatrical showcase for both actors, Maron truly shines during one of Sam and Ruth’s initial bonding moments when an overly defensive Sam vindictively reminds Ruth that she slept with her best friend’s husband.

“I’m sorry. I have a flaw in my conflict style according to my ex-wife’s cognitive behavioral therapist,” he says, in a line that could have been lifted from WTF. But seconds later we witness Sam’s softer side as he explains why good people often make poor decisions.

“For me, it’s usually because I’m high or drunk or someone has done something to make me feel so small and so insecure that I have to do something to remind myself that I exist. But you don’t seem like that type of person.”

This wonderfully crafted scene exemplifies GLOW’s deft approach to storytelling. It’s not overly sentimental. It doesn’t betray the characters. It’s just a beautiful moment between two burgeoning friends expertly acted by Brie and Maron. Sam doesn’t suddenly transform into a completely different person. He’s still a curmudgeon; he’s still self-destructive; and he’ll continue to make poor decisions. But he’s taking a positive step in the right direction by demonstrating empathy. Sam’s fighting against his nature as he desperately tries to be a better person, and Maron demonstrates that newfound vulnerability with care and subtlety.

Sam isn’t a complete departure from roles Maron has portrayed in the past, but he is a lot less neurotic and way more earnest than the heightened version of himself Maron portrayed on his terrific IFC series. The character is nuanced enough to show that Maron has the ability to thrive when given the opportunity to tackle emotionally substantial roles.